System and method for enhanced commerce

ABSTRACT

A program controlled data-processing system and computer-based method for facilitating retail transactions based on a seamless translation of reward points into a suitable currency for purchase. In one embodiment, the present invention allows a user to utilize points without the traditional redemption restrictions or encumbrances associated with reward programs.

The present invention relates to a computer platform for enhancedpayment methods and an operative apparatus for implementation. Inparticular, the present invention relates to a purchasing support systemthat enhances the ability for consumer purchases including a module toprovide payment flexibility in a seamless manner.

BACKGROUND

Retail shopping remains a billion-dollar business that involves a vastarray of distinct distribution channels. Product purchases by consumersare made at traditional brick-and-mortar stores such as Macy's andon-line retailers such as Buy.com. While the shopping experience can bevastly different, there are common elements to the process. Goods areinspected, reviewed and selected for purchase. Prior to a customer'staking possession of a selected item, the purchase process must becompleted, typically through the collection of payment for the selecteditem.

In a traditional store, the selected items are taken to a check-out,where a cash register is used to tabulate and collect the price of thegoods, and to make change. To the extent that credit or debit cards areused for payment, the store includes network connections to variousbanks and related credit authorities to complete the requestedtransaction in near-instantaneous fashion. A substantial engineeringeffort has been made to make the final purchase process as seamless aspossible, so as to complete the transaction in a minimal window of time.

A similar shopping experience has been created for web-based retailing.In particular, online merchants seek to replicate in part the experienceshoppers have in a traditional retail environment, and further, toenhance the ability of consumers to browse goods so that the decision topurchase is enjoyable and the actual purchase and settlement is seamlessand quick. To this end, various online tools such as “shopping carts”are used to simulate a traditional retail shopping experience, tocollect goods for purchase and to complete the purchase at a separatecheckout location (or checkout web page). Of course, online purchasesare reliant on electronic commerce payment systems such as PayPal, andvarious credit/debit facilities, since cash or other currency types(e.g., checks) create additional issues for online transactions. Inaddition, online systems are subject to fraud and privacy concerns thatdon't typically concern traditional retail outlets. Moreover, there havebeen efforts to develop that facilitate the online purchase process,including local storage of redundant data. See, e.g., U.S. PublicationNo. 2010/0241518, herein incorporated by reference.

In addition to traditional and online shopping based on the above, therehas been a growing use of reward points to effect select consumerbehavior. Reward currencies stem from the earliest days of masscommerce, including the use of trading stamps more than 100 years ago toincrease sales at gas stations and grocery stores (Sperry and Hutchinsonat one point printed more “green” stamps than the US Postal System).Airlines and travel companies now routinely include some form of rewardscurrency, and many banks and credit cards have followed suit. Ascommerce has moved online, so have the various reward currency programs,with early versions distributed by “Netcentives” and similar outlets.The expanded use of reward currencies has increased geometrically thenumber of “points” held by consumers, swelling this purchasing currencyso that it now reflects a meaningful potential driver of consumer sales.

These loyalty programs, however, limit consumers to redeeming theirpoints at certain locations (and/or for certain items), such as thespecific loyalty program's redemption store (or a limited collection ofstores). Thus, if a loyalty program's redemption store does not carry anitem the consumer wants, the consumer may be forced to spend her loyaltypoints on an item she does not want. Moreover, the customer may bedissatisfied enough to simply forgo using her points, as evidenced bythe billions of dollars worth of points accumulated in the onlinemarketplace that went unused and were allowed to expire in 2011. Inaddition, consumers do not currently have an effective means forutilizing their points offline, in a traditional store.

There are several emerging technologies that are now changing thelandscape of traditional point of sale commerce. Over the last decade,there has been a growing adoption by merchants of “tap” to buy systemsthat allow a credit/debit card holder to skip the card swipe andcomplete the transaction with a simple tap. More recently, smartphonesand tablets are now equipped with near field technologies that allowcommunications between the phone/tablet and various point of saledetector/computer systems. Examples of this new platform are many anddiverse such as that found in US Publication No. 20120238207, hereinincorporated by reference. This capability has greatly increased thesophistication of point of sale communication capabilities includingtracking and the like. There, however, has not been a meaningfulsolution to simplify and facilitate reward/promotion based transactions.

There exists a need for an effective system of allowing points to beredeemed for any purchase, online and offline—including purchasesoutside of a specific loyalty redemption store.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the environment of the disclosed technology inaccordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates the process flow of the disclosed technology inaccordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates the process flow of the disclosed technology inaccordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative screenshot of the present invention accordingto certain embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates the environment of the disclosed technology inaccordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates an arrangement of the disclosed technology inaccordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an arrangement of the disclosed technology inaccordance with certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a data-processing system andcomputer-based method that allow a user to effectively utilize her“loyalty points” to purchase goods or services in a seamless fashion. Inparticular, the present invention allows a user to utilize pointswithout the traditional redemption restrictions or encumbrancesassociated with loyalty programs.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the presently disclosed system forutilizing points without traditional loyalty program restrictions.System 100 includes Client Computer 102, Loyalty Clearinghouse Server103, and Merchant Server 104. Client Computer 102 may be any type ofmobile device or computing device, described in further detail below,such as a smart phone or tablet. Client Computer 102 is operated by auser that is eligible to or has enrolled into one or more loyaltyprograms and is generating loyalty points (or “points”); for example, byshopping online or viewing online advertisements. Client Computer 102contains Toolbar 102A and/or Browser 102B.

Browser 102B allows the user to access and view various web sites withina distributed network such as the internet. Toolbar 102A is programseparate from the browser (but which may be integrated with thebrowser), that provides one or more reward and promotional relatedfunctions including point utilization, point generation/tracking, searchfunctionality, advertisement display and/or branding. Specifically, inone embodiment, Toolbar 102A assists in utilizing, via LoyaltyClearinghouse Server 103, points from one or more loyalty programs withany merchant website, and transparently to the merchant. This process isdescribed in greater detail below.

In one embodiment, Toolbar 102A or another toolbar may be used to trackor generate points. To illustrate, when a toolbar is downloaded from aparticipating website, (eg., “blog.com”), that selectively configuredtoolbar will display advertisements as the user browses the internet,and, based on the advertisements displayed or selected, or otherpoint-generating activities undertaken by the use in accordance with theoperative features of the rewards program, the toolbar willassign/provide points to the user and transmit reward data to theLoyalty Clearinghouse Server 103, or to the respective loyalty program'sserver. As understood by those skilled in the art, points may begenerated in many different ways, and the generation of points to beused by the present invention is not limited to the embodimentsdescribed herein.

Loyalty Clearinghouse Server 103, which may be operated by an entityassociated with a loyalty program or a third party, includes a Website103A and a Points Database 103B. Client Computer 102 may access Website103A via Internet 101, and the user may enroll in the associated loyaltyprogram (if available), associated loyalty clearinghouse program, and/ordownload Toolbar 102A. Client Computer 102 may also access and enroll inloyalty programs sponsored by other entities at their respectiveservers. In certain embodiments, Loyalty Clearinghouse Server 103 doesnot provide its own loyalty program. While Loyalty Clearinghouse Server103 may be dedicated to a single loyalty program, in a preferredembodiment, it operates to support multiple programs as a clearinghousefor point utilization activity. Various loyalty programs may registerwith Loyalty Clearinghouse Server 103 so that, for example, their usersare able to utilize their points outside of the respective loyaltyprogram's limited and restrictive loyalty network.

Information relating to the user's accumulated points is stored inPoints Database 103B. Additionally, information relating to conversionrates of various loyalty program points to a currency is stored inPoints Database 103B. For example, loyalty program 1 sponsored by OneCorp. and loyalty program 2 sponsored by Two Corp. are supported byLoyalty Clearinghouse Server 103 sponsored by Clearinghouse Corp. Inthis example, the Points Database 103B may store information indicatingthat 100 points from loyalty program 1 are worth $5, and 100 points fromloyalty program 2 are worth $10.

Merchant Server 104, which may be operated by the merchant entity or athird party, includes a Website 104A that advertises/sells items (theterm “items” shall mean products, services and/or anything that may bepaid for online). Client Computer 102 may access Website 104A viaInternet 101. After a user adds items to their online “shopping cart,”the user enters the checkout process to pay for the items.Traditionally, a user will enter their credit card information at thecheckout page. In one inventive embodiment, Toolbar 102A will prompt theuser to pay for the purchase using the user's points. Optionally,Toolbar 102A will display the total amount of points the user has, andshow how many of those points will be needed and/or used for thepurchase. Toolbar may communicate with Points Database 103B to determinethe number of points the user has, and the associated dollar (or othercurrency) value of those points.

If the user chooses to pay for the purchase with her points, the LoyaltyClearinghouse Server 103 will determine the number of points neededbased on the purchase price (which may include shipping, tax, and othercharges) and the point-currency conversion rate, deduct those pointsfrom the user's account in the Points Database 103B, generate atemporary credit card number that has a credit of the currency value ofthe deducted/redeemed points, and fill in the temporary credit cardnumber in the order page (or present the number to the user to enterinto the order page). The order will then proceed using the temporarycredit card number. Accordingly, the present system may be madecompletely transparent to the Merchant Server 104; that is, the MerchantServer 104 cannot detect that the user is paying for the purchase withpoints. Additionally, the Merchant Server 104 need not include anyspecial software/code, and need not be a participant in any loyaltyprogram.

In one embodiment, the user may adjust the number of points to be used.In fact, optionally a user may use her points even if they will notcover the full cost of the purchase, or use less than all of her pointsfor partial payment for the purchased item. In each of thesearrangements, the user may pay for the remaining balance usingtraditional means, such as a credit/debit card. In a separatearrangement the Merchant Server 104 contains code to interact with theLoyalty Clearinghouse Server 103 to effect the purchase with loyaltypoints, without the use of Toolbar 102A.

Accordingly, this system encourages the use of points and is beneficialto customers, merchants, loyalty programs, and credit card companies.Specifically, the customers/users are able to redeem their points onitems they actually want to purchase, and are not limited to restrictiveloyalty programs. Merchants are able to generate more sales due to theincreased use of points. Companies sponsoring loyalty programs thatregister with the Loyalty Clearinghouse are able to remove the value ofpoints from their balance sheets, and encourage the usage of theirloyalty programs through increased customer satisfaction. Finally,credit card companies, through issuance of temporary or one-time creditcards, are able to generate additional fees.

In certain embodiments, a mobile device may be used to scan a barcodewithin a retail store, and initiate the redemption of points for thepurchase of that item (either within the physical store or at an onlinestore) in accordance with the present invention. For example, a loyaltyprogram customer is walking through a Macy's store and sees a jacket helikes. The customer scans the barcode of the jacket with his phone, theloyalty clearinghouse application locates the product online—forexample, at buy.com—and presents the user with the opportunity to usehis points to pay for the jacket. Optionally, the application will showthe customer the conversion rate of points to a particular currency inaddition to the price of a selected item, and current points balance.The customer can then either choose to buy the coat at the traditionalstore—with points and/or cash/credit—and the benefit of easy returnetc., offered by such retail outlets. Or the customer can visit theshopping portal and make the purchase online—again using points,credit/debit, or a combination of both at the specified conversion rate.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the process flow of the disclosed technologyin accordance with certain embodiments. The process starts at 200 andproceeds to 210 where a toolbar determines if a user's browser is hasinitiated a checkout process or is at a checkout page. Once the toolbarhas detected a checkout process, the method proceeds to 220 where thetoolbar determines the total purchase price. At 230, the user's pointsare converted to the applicable currency (dollars, yen, etc.) based on aconversion rate. For example, the conversion rate may be specified bythe loyalty program or the loyalty clearinghouse. The proposed pointredemption, either up to the determined total purchase price or theuser's total number of points, is presented to the user at 240. The useris then given the option to use the points for the purchase, 250. If theuser selects no, the user is then able to check out through traditionalmeans; for example, by using a regular credit/debit card. If the userselects yes, a temporary credit card number is generated, 270, and theassociated points are deducted from the user's account, 280. Thetemporary credit card number is used to complete the checkout process,290.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the process flow of the disclosed technologyin accordance with certain embodiments. The process starts at 300 andproceeds to 310, where the user is browsing a Merchant website andadding items to her shopping cart. The left side of the chart reflectssteps that are visible to the user, while the right side of the chartreflects steps that are not visible to the user. As the user is browsingthe merchant site, the toolbar and/or browser determine if the merchantsite supports the loyalty clearinghouse's dynamic checkout process. At315, the user selects the checkout option at Merchant Website, and basedon pulled “DNA”, the toolbar detects that the user is at or enteringcheckout. “DNA” as used herein is the procedure and/or protocols used ina merchant website's checkout process. Each merchant website may haveits own DNA. The loyalty clearinghouse utilizes the merchant website DNAin order to seamlessly map the dynamic checkout process. The toolbarobtains the amount due at check out and determines whether the user hasenough points, 345. The toolbar will present the points screen at 350,which will show the user how many points are being used to pay for thepurchase, and whether user has enough points to cover the full cost ofthe transaction.

As discussed above, in various embodiments, points may still be redeemedeven where the points do not provide for the total purchase amount. At320, the checkout screen is displayed to the user. When the user choosesto checkout using her points, a temporary credit card number or aone-time credit card (OTCC) will be generated, and the checkout sequencewill continue at 325. At 355, the toolbar will fetch the page amount.Based on the pulled checkout DNA, the toolbar initiates the checkoutsequence and completes the transaction using the temporary credit cardnumber, 360. At 330, the Merchant's purchase completion page isdisplayed.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative screenshot of the present invention accordingto certain embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates an arrangement of the present invention according tocertain embodiments. Computer 502, operated by a web browsing customer,is able to connect to Merchant Server 504 via Internet 506. In thisconfiguration, Computer 502 does not involve a toolbar for points basedcommerce. Instead, Merchant Server 504 has pre-registered to operatewith the points based transactions in advance and thus includes codeembedded on its website, such as JavaScript, that enables the site torecognize the visiting customer via “cookie” or similar associated withthe Computer 502. This merchant based code operates transparent to thecustomer, except it provides the option to utilize customer points topay for the purchase.

In particular, and in one example, the JavaScript enables the MerchantServer 504 to communicate with a credit card company server and/or aloyalty clearinghouse server for the points to credit conversion andpayment information. For example, the JavaScript causes the MerchantServer 504 to contact the loyalty clearinghouse server to determinewhether the user has enough points to complete the purchase and theconversion rate. Continuing with the example, upon selection by thecustomer, the loyalty clearinghouse server may then contact the creditcard server to obtain a one-time credit card, deduct the correspondingpoints from the customer's points account, and send the one-time creditcard number to the Merchant Server 504. Support may be provided forconversion from multiple reward programs and for use of one or morecredit facilities, including the major card outlets—Visa andMastercard—and those less known. Based on the platform used, optimizedprograms or combinations may be identified and/or ranked for selectionby the customer during the check-out process. The Merchant Server 504may then proceed with the checkout process as usual.

Example—Starbucks

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the present invention in accordancewith certain embodiments utilizing a mobile device in a retail store. Inthis example, the Mobile Device 602 used is a smartphone that isequipped with Near Field Communication (NFC) based on Radio-FrequencyIdentification (RFID) protocols. The smartphone is properly programmed,the customer has previously registered with Starbucks as a member, andis also registered with a loyalty clearinghouse that has contracted withStarbucks. Interested in a gourmet cup of coffee, the customer enters aStarbucks store 604, selects and receives her cup of coffee and moves tothe check-out to pay for the purchase using points.

To do so, in a first arrangement, an application on the Mobile Device602 is accessed, and communicates with Loyalty Clearinghouse Server 608using the smartphone's data/cell communication link. Using theinformation accessed from the Loyalty Clearinghouse Server 608, theMobile Device 602 may display the points available to the customerand/or the conversion value of the points to a currency (such asdollars). Additionally, the system can support interactive display ofchoices and prices/points for each purchase, and to the extent variousreward currency/coupons are used, various restrictions will be checked.The Loyalty Clearinghouse Server 608 converts the customer's points, ora portion of the customer's total points, to a currency value, and sendsa request to Credit Card Company 606 to issue a one-time credit card.The one-time credit card is sent from the Credit Card Company 606 to theMobile Device 602 directly, or to the Loyalty Clearinghouse Server 608first and then from the Loyalty Server 608 to the Mobile Device 602. TheMerchant 604 communicates with the smartphone using the NFC enabled byboth the phone and point of sale system; alternatively, the point ofsale can scan the Mobile Device 602 (for example, using a bar codescanner to read the display of the Mobile Device 602), either before,after, or concurrently with the Mobile Device's contact with the LoyaltyClearinghouse Server 608. The Merchant 604 then charges the Credit CardCompany 606 using one-time credit card, and the transaction is complete.

A second arrangement is also envisioned. For this arrangement, thesmartphone includes programming that interacts directly with the POSsystem operated by Starbucks, sending a query about payment options uponcheck-out. Starbuck members often are provided incentives for variouspurchases based on volume or other promotions (seasonal such as the 12days of Christmas); also members have accounts that require updatingbased on transactions. In this second arrangement, Starbucks serverconfirms that the customer is eligible for a rewards purchase—usingpoints maintained by another program—in this case American Airlines.According to a pre-arranged exchange ratio, Starbucks converts themember's airline miles to currency, and then applies this currencydirectly to the purchase of the coffee product. A confirmation is sentback to the customer's smartphone which otherwise relies on theStarbucks system to complete the transaction. Under this scenario, thereis no need for a onetime credit card number or charging facility.

Because of the interactive role that Starbucks and the various creditfacilities play in the above transactions, system administration feesare appropriate, at each stage, measured in basis points against thetransaction volume.

Certain credit cards, such as MasterCard's paypass, utilize contactlesspayment systems e.g., “tap”. Contactless payment system include creditand debit cards or other devices that use RFID (or similar technology)for making payments. These contactless payment credit cards have anembedded chip that allows customers to wave their card over a reader atthe merchant point-of-sale to effect payment. Use of Tap, or other NFCtechnologies discussed above provide outstanding fraud and privacyprotections often unavailable from more traditional transaction systems,thus these systems tend to enjoy more support from the sponsoring creditfacilities. In addition, these systems allow for the robust programmingthat can support the expanded use of reward currencies for conventionaltransactions and commerce.

FIG. 7 illustrates an arrangement of the invention utilizing contactlesspayment systems. At 702, a customer uses a “tap” credit card (acontactless payment system) to make a purchase at Merchant 704. Merchant704 determines whether the customer is registered in its pointredemption program. If the customer is registered, at 708 the customerhas the option of using her points or paying through traditional means.In one example, the customer pays through her Credit Card at 710, andthe transaction ends. In another example, the user chooses to use herpoints, the merchant contacts the credit card company to issue aone-time credit card at 712. The credit card company, in turn, contactsthe Loyalty Clearinghouse Server at 716 to determine if the customer hasenough points, and if so, deducts the points from the customer's accountand issues a one-time credit card. At 714, the customer completes thetransaction using the one-time credit card which was obtained inexchange for points, and the process ends. Optionally, the user may bepresented with the points to currency conversion before accepting theredemption of her points.

Accordingly, the present invention is able to support both merchantswithout membership requirements, and those that do require purchasers tobe members. Commissions can be charged from the loyalty clearinghouse tothe merchant and the credit card company—each of which can be measuredin basis points on the transaction.

The invention described above is operational with general purpose orspecial purpose computing system environments or configurations.Examples of well known computing systems, environments, and/orconfigurations that may be suitable for use with the invention include,but are not limited to: personal computers, server computers, hand-heldor laptop devices, smart phones such as iPhones, tablet devices such asiPads, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set topboxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers,mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include anyof the above systems or devices, and the like.

Components of the inventive computer system may include, but are notlimited to, a processing unit, a system memory, and a system bus thatcouples various system components including the system memory to theprocessing unit.

The computer system typically includes a variety of non-transitorycomputer-readable media. Computer-readable media can be any availablemedia that can be accessed by the computer and includes both volatileand nonvolatile media, and removable and non-removable media. By way ofexample, and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprisecomputer storage media and communication media. Computer storage mediamay store information such as computer-readable instructions, datastructures, program modules or other data. Computer storage mediaincludes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or othermemory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which canbe used to store the desired information and which can be accessed bythe computer. Communication media typically embodies computer-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules or other data in amodulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transportmechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term“modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of itscharacteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode informationin the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communicationmedia includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wiredconnection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and otherwireless media. Combinations of the any of the above should also beincluded within the scope of computer-readable media.

The computer system may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers. The remote computer may bea personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device orother common network node, and typically includes many or all of theelements described above relative to the computer. The logicalconnections depicted in include one or more local area networks (LAN)and one or more wide area networks (WAN), but may also include othernetworks. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices,enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet.

For ease of exposition, not every step or element of the presentinvention is described herein as part of software or computer system,but those skilled in the art will recognize that each step or elementmay have a corresponding computer system or software component. Suchcomputer systems and/or software components are therefore enabled bydescribing their corresponding steps or elements (that is, theirfunctionality), and are within the scope of the present invention. Inaddition, various steps and/or elements of the present invention may bestored in a non-transitory storage medium, and selectively executed by aprocessor.

The foregoing components of the present invention described as making upthe various elements of the invention are intended to be illustrativeand not restrictive. Many suitable components that would perform thesame or similar functions as the components described are intended to beembraced within the scope of the invention. Such other components caninclude, for example, components developed after the development of thepresent invention.

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving at a loyaltyclearinghouse server, via a distributed network, user information andcheckout information, wherein said user information is associated with apoints account and said checkout information comprises the totalpurchase price; converting, by said server, points to a currency value,wherein said points are associated with said points account; presenting,via said distributed network, proposed point redemption to a user;generating a temporary credit or debit card number based on said pointconversion; and deducting said points from said points account.
 2. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said checkoutinformation is received from a mobile device.
 3. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said checkoutinformation is received from a merchant.
 4. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 3, wherein said user information is received by merchantthrough a contactless payment system or near field communication.
 5. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said points are deductedfrom said points account only when explicitly authorized by the user. 6.The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receivingregistration from said user.
 7. The computer-implemented method of claim1, further comprising receiving registration from a merchant.
 8. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receivingregistration from a credit or debit card company.
 9. A system,comprising: a communication link configured to receive user informationand checkout information, wherein said user information is associatedwith a points account and said checkout information comprises the totalpurchase price; and a data-processor programmed to: convert points to acurrency value, wherein said points are associated with said pointsaccount; present proposed point redemption to a user; generate atemporary credit or debit card number based on said point conversion;and deduct said points from said points account.
 10. The system of claim1, wherein said communication link receives checkout information from amobile device.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein said communicationlink receives checkout information from a merchant.
 12. The system ofclaim 3, wherein said user information is received by merchant through acontactless payment system or near field communication.
 13. The systemof claim 1, wherein said points are deducted from said points accountonly when explicitly authorized by the user.
 14. The system of claim 1,further comprising a module configured to receive registration from saiduser.
 15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module configuredto receive registration from a merchant.
 16. The system of claim 1,further comprising a module configured to receive registration from acredit or debit card company.
 17. A non-transitory computer-readablemedium containing a program that, when executed on a data-processor,causes the data-processor to: receive via a distributed network, userinformation and checkout information, wherein said user information isassociated with a points account and said checkout information comprisesthe total purchase price; convert points to a currency value, whereinsaid points are associated with said points account; present via saiddistributed network, proposed point redemption to a user; generate atemporary credit or debit card number based on said point conversion;and deduct said points from said points account.